Did We Actually Elect a Good President?
It’s still early days, but Wow:
A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” In our democracy, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which encourages accountability through transparency, is the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open Government. At the heart of that commitment is the idea that accountability is in the interest of the Government and the citizenry alike.The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails. The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed to serve. In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies (agencies) should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public.
All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of disclosure should be applied to all decisions involving FOIA.
The presumption of disclosure also means that agencies should take affirmative steps to make information public. They should not wait for specific requests from the public. All agencies should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their Government. Disclosure should be timely.
–President Barack Obama
Read the rest in Freedom of Information Act
It’s starting to seem like Barack Obama actually gets it. I still want to see him prosecute the criminals in the Bush administration, but otherwise it’s starting to look like we’ve elected a good one for the first time in my lifetime. Fingers crossed.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Elliotte, I couldn’t agree more. Yes, it’s still early, but his views, respect for facts, intellect, accountability, and that he doesn’t surround himself with sycophants but rather those who will force him to defend his views, all point to the best president we’ve had in a long time. He’s also not out to do it alone, and has been doing a good job of letting us know that we all have a part to play in the rebuilding of America.
I was interested in how the extreme right was taking him and sought out Limbaugh on Fox last night. It’s amazing how extreme he had to go to twist views in his favor…and each time he spoke he pushed himself farther from the mainstream. He’s now alienating himself from lawful Americans. I never thought I’d say this, but “Keep going Rush!” He digs himself a deeper hole each time he moves his poisoned lips.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Unfortunately he also seems to support warrant-less wiretapping, or at least immunity for those who perpetrate such crimes. Don’t those seem like contradictory positions?
January 30th, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Warrant-less wiretapping under the right conditions is :
1) legal (we have included considerations for it in our laws)
2) unfortunately necessary on occasion
Now, mind you, I certainly do not condone random or unchecked wiretapping. The need is there for cases of national concern. I also believe that all of these cases need to be deeply probed once the sensitivity of the situation passes. So, in short… No, the positions are not contradictory, nor, is such a thing a crime in itself (though instances of it may be).